India forward Manvir Singh, who scored the all-important goal against Kuwait in the 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifier in Kuwait City on Thursday, was a happy man.

"I’m happy that I got the goal, but I must thank my teammates for it. It’s all because of everyone’s hard work,” Manvir said in an All India Football Federation media release on Friday.

“I am lucky to score in a big match like this. Looking forward to score more in the coming matches.”

The victory was also India's first in a Pre-World Cup match in more than two decades.

Head coach Igor Stimac said he was not surprised with the result. “We're not surprised. I'm very confident about our team and our capabilities. We came to win the game. I have full trust in my boys. They've worked hard in the last few years."

Centre-back Sandesh Jhingan believes the importance of the occasion made the difference.

"The weight of the tournament made the difference. We played well in the King’s Cup and Merdeka Cup. Yes, we could not win there but we learnt our lesson. And showed our calibre on Thursday."